A new campaign has launched to get people recycling more of the electrical items in their houses, and this is how you can help in Reading.

With the help of Hypnocat (pictured above), Re3, a waste management partnership between Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council, is aiming to capture the attention of residents to help them with recycling electric items.

For residents in Reading with a red wheelie bin, you should bag small electricals (max size 30cm x 24cm) in a carrier bag and place it next to your red recycling bin on your next collection date.

READ MORE: 'Vandalised’ historic 'dog fountain' in Reading town centre to be repaired

Alternatively, you take them to the Re3 recycling centre on Smallmead Road.

Reading residents in Reading who use communal bins should bag them and take them to the recycling centre.

If the small electricals are in working order, they should be left at the Reuse Area at Re3.

You can also find your local electrical recycling point here.

Bracknell and Wokingham residents are not able to leave their electricals outside their home and should take them to their nearest Re3 recycling centre or another nearby drop-off point.

Which electrics can be recycled?

Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled.

Once you have decided that you want to recycle an old electrical, Hypnocat recommends following the ABC rule:

  • Ask yourself whether your old electrical item contains batteries or bulbs? They need to be removed before recycling. With computers or smart devices remove the memory and SIM cards and delete your data.
  • Bag It – find a bag that you can use to store all your old electricals so you can recycle them.
  • Check Recycle Your Electrials’ easy recycling locator to find your reuse or recycling point https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/electrical-recycling-near-me/

Who is behind the campaign?

The new UK-wide Recycle Your Electricals campaign reveals the value hidden in electricals, making it easier for everyone to recycle and reuse the small electricals we no longer need by providing more recycling points as well as providing practical information on how households can recycle.

The campaign is funded by producers of electrical appliances. The UK government sets annual targets for the recycling of all waste electricals, including small electricals. If producers of electrical appliances don’t meet this target, then they contribute towards a fund called Material focus (previously WEEE Fund).

READ MORE: The Reading surgeries, hospitals and halls providing coronavirus vaccines

During 2017 and 2018, £10.6 million was collected for the fund, which pays for a range of activities, including communications, behaviour change activities, increased recycling projects and research.

Ultimately, the aim is to support actions that will help the UK increase the levels of reuse and recycling of waste electricals.